Seizures
Z. Rozkydal


•Seizures
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•Involuntary contractions of muscles in the body
•May results in loss of consciousness
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•Most common cause is epilepsy
•Further: head injury, brain damaging disease
•              shortage of oxygen, meningitis, encefalitis
•              tumors, intracerebral bleeding
•              delivery trauma
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Epilepsy
- Grand mal: generalised seizures
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- Petit mal:    several seconds seizure
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- Akinetic convulsion
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- Absence seizures: stiffness of the body, switch off
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•Symptoms
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•Aura: sensitive, sensoric, visceral, psychogenic symptoms
•Sudden loss of consciousness
•Rigid, arching his back
•Breathing- noisy and difficult
•Convulsive movement
•Saliva may appear in the mouth- bloodstained
•Possible loss of bowel control
•Later on- muscles relax, normal breathing,
•                he is again conscious, but not aware of the action
•                he feels tired, falls into a deep sleep
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•First aid
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•Make space around the casualty
•Remove potentionally dangerous  thigs
•To protect him from injury
•Protect the casualty´s head
•Loosen tight clothing
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•After convulsion have ceased
•open the casualty´s airway
•Check the breathing
•If he is breathing- get him into recovery position
•Record vital signs
•Transport

•Seizures in children
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•Raised body temperature- febrile seizures
•They are alarming but not dangerous if properly dealt with
•Usually between 3. months- 3. years of age
•Appears in 4 %  of children
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•Short simple convulsions
•Generaliased convulsions for several minutes
•Sometimes beginning of child ´s epilepsy
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•Signs
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•Shaking, arched back
•Hot flushed skin
•Sweating
•Twitching of the face
•Breath holding
•Possible vomiting
•Loss of bowel and bladder movement
•Loss of consciousness
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•First aid
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•Soft padding around the child to avoid injury
•Cool the child – cold water or compresses
•Free airways
•Cold fluids, panadol suppositoria
•Record vital signs
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Infant´s seizures:
-hypoglycaemia
-hypocalcaemia
-low magnesium, low natrium
•Metabolic disorder:
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•Hypercalcaemia (hyperparathyreoidismus, malignancy in bones)
•Hypocalcaemia   (hypoparathyreoidismus)